No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 196 - 111. I want to have another one-on-one with Kobe as a high schooler! _3
Chapter 196: 111. I want to have another one-on-one with Kobe as a high schooler! _3
The joyful pre-game activity time is over, and the game is about to begin.
As Zhang Yang was applying chalk powder, Iverson came over to him and said, "Jack, you attack first when the game starts."
Zhang Yang: "Me first?"
Iverson: "Yes, tonight we need to help LeBron get the MVP. I heard that the other side wants to help Tracy get the MVP, so it’ll be harder for you to score later on."
Zhang Yang: "...Allen, you don’t need to beat around the bush."
Iverson: "Haha..."
After informing Zhang Yang, Iverson went over to O’Neal and James.
Zhang Yang thought about how LeBron had been looking for people to chat with all day, and it turned out it was for this. Indeed, LeBron’s public image was really good at the moment, aside from his layup steps... It’s just that they didn’t even give Zhang San a heads-up about it.
Note to self!
The opposing players also gathered together, probably discussing the game. McGrady was competing for MVP, likely as a courtesy since he was from the host team, the Rockets. With two All-Stars, Yao Ming wasn’t suited for this type of game, so it had to be McGrady.
Seeing Iverson and Kobe leading the two teams, Zhang Yang felt that it wasn’t so much LeBron vs McGrady as it was these two vying with each other.
It could also be that O’Neal wanted to compete with Yao Ming’s team.
It’s just that Kobe, O’Neal, and Iverson, these three who won three of the last four MVPs over the past four years, might be embarrassed to compete again, so they gave face to LeBron and the host McGrady.
The feeling of an imminent battle was electrifying, and as a spectator on the court, Zhang Yang found it very exciting. Nowadays, the star players have ongoing feuds and don’t just team up when they can’t beat someone, unlike future All-Star Games, which, like the Rookie Challenge, have become dunk shows.
...
At 8 PM, the referee blew the starting whistle and tossed the ball into the air.
O’Neal leapt high, easily winning the jump ball over Yao Ming, and the Eastern team attacked first!
Iverson advanced to the front court, guarded at the top of the arc by Kobe.
The fans erupted in cheers as number 3 and number 8 faced off!
To the surprise of the fans, Zhang Yang ran over from the side and Iverson passed him the ball.
Nash, catching up: ??? Iverson, if you’re upset about me possibly winning back-to-back MVPs, just say it!
Switching with Kobe, no face-saving, but defending... even if the opponent is only a high school student, he can’t defend him! Nash seriously suspected that if he lost face and asked Kobe to switch, Iverson would just take the ball back.
Just as Nash was about to curse under his breath, he saw Zhang Yang waving at Iverson: "Allen, help me create some space, I want to have another one-on-one high school duel with Kobe!"
Iverson laughed and said to Nash, guarding Zhang Yang, "Steve, come with me, let’s not get in the way of the high schoolers."
Nash was overjoyed and quickly followed Iverson’s footsteps away.
Kobe, speechless: Have you three made the decision already? Did anyone consider my opinion?
He grumbled inwardly, but his body was honest. As soon as Nash left Zhang Yang’s front, he moved in, not giving Zhang Yang the chance to suddenly launch a quick shot. By the same token, something he could’ve done back in his early years, he believed the high school rookie opposite him would do the same.
As soon as Kobe got into position, he heard the rookie opponent speak.
"Yao, block him!"
Kobe immediately turned his head to see... Yao Ming standing under the basket, looking utterly confused.
Wait, isn’t Yao Ming on my team?
Kobe turned his head back... only to find himself duped!
He immediately pounced, but it was too late, Zhang Yang had already jumped up and shot the ball.
The first shot of the game, ample preparation time, rhythm on point...it went in!
The move stunned all the players on the court.
Iverson: Well done!
O’Neal: This high schooler, off the court he seems so polite it’s almost unbearable, just like that other high schooler... kind of puts me off, but when it came to the pre-game activities, he’s different, saying he doesn’t know how to dance, won’t dance, yet his body’s honestly grooving away. Now in a game like this, he’s completely transformed!
If that other high schooler were as entertaining as this, why would they have ever fallen out?
Yao Ming: Does the kid really have such a big contrast when he plays?
Gerald Wallace: Heh, you’re surprised by this? Go watch Jack and Jordan train together and you’ll see the real Jack.
An All-Star game, ah, a game for entertainment, leaving the players both amazed and amused.
TV viewers also updated their impressions of the rookie Zhang Yang when they heard him asking Iverson to clear space for him; the sound from the court was picked up by the microphones and broadcast to the fans at home.
In Zhang Yang’s first game against the Lakers, he had also ’toyed’ with Kobe, but time had passed since then, and Zhang Yang always appeared humble and modest in the media, crafting the impression of a humble, polite, and talented player.
Who would have thought he would be so entertaining in an All-Star game! The spotlight shifted to Kobe, who looked like he wanted to devour someone, and the fans in front of their TVs were absolutely enjoying it.
Kobe was furious! He rushed in to take the inbound and push forward.
He was determined to crush this rookie whose skin was thicker than his own rookie year!
But once in the frontcourt and seeing Zhang Yang guarding the top of the arc, Kobe, who had wanted to overpower his way through, hesitated.
Hearing the heckling from the live audience, Kobe looked at the fearless rookie ready in a defensive stance on the opposite side... as the league’s top scorer, using his physicality to overwhelm on defense was one thing, but bulldozing a high school rookie who had just entered the NBA on offense felt a bit shameless.
If that’s the case, let’s go with skill then!
Trying for a sneak attack, huh?
Suddenly, Kobe grabbed the bouncing ball, jumped...
And Zhang Yang also jumped up immediately!
Moreover, his hand-to-hand disruption timing and positioning were very well controlled!
Kobe was surprised, quickly leaned back... shot... and missed!
Such an unprepared motion, suddenly grabbing the ball to jump and shoot was difficult, and adding a fadeaway made it even less certain, even for him.
O’Neal grabbed the rebound, lifted it high, waving excitedly at Zhang Yang as he shouted, "Jack, come get the ball, gogogo, blast Kobe!"
Number 8 played dirty with a sneak attack and failed! Big Shark was thrilled!
At the same time, O’Neal was also surprises by Zhang Yang’s defensive awareness.
He hadn’t even noticed Kobe was attempting a sneak attack, yet the rookie had figured it out!
Not to mention this defensive awareness, facing Kobe, a terrifying scorer who once scored 81 points in a regular season game, without a trace of fear, this psychological quality, just a round ago he was fooling around, and the moment he was back on defense, he was fully invested. This ability to focus on defense at any moment... incredible! Reminds me of his former little brothers!
O’Neal looked across the court, and sure enough, Kobe, who was falling back on defense, had already turned serious!
...
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